Monday, April 2, 2012

Safari Moon by Ann Christine

I am delighted to share Ann Christine and her novel, Safari Moon which looks to be a dynamite read!

Be sure to follow this tour and stop by each hosting site, here are the benefits:

Ann Christine will be giving away the following prizes:

* A Safari Moon bookmark to one randomly drawn commenter at every stop.* Ebook copy of The Gift (part of A Valentine Anthology) and Star Crossed (part of St. Patrick's Day anthology) to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.* One commenter during the tour will win the right to have a character named for them in her next release--either Ghost Dance (a western historical romance) or Rebel Heart (science-fiction romance)* Two randomly drawn commenters during the tour will each win a $25.00 giftcard to Starbucks* The host with the most comments (excluding the author's and the host's) will win a $15 giftcard to Starbucks

About the Novel:

Solo St. John, a wildlife photographer, is preparing for a trip to Alaska. Suddenly, Solo finds women of all sorts invading his privacy, his home and his office, all cooing nonsense words and blatantly throwing themselves at him. Solo doesn't know why, and he has no idea how to rid himself of the persistent women. He finally decides to beg a favor of his best buddy Nyssa Harrington.

In love with Solo for the past ten years and knowing he doesn't return her feelings Nyssa doesn't want to talk to Solo. She knows if she accepts his phone call, she will not be able to resist the temptation to hope again.

About the Author:

Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance.

She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children. Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

Wanted: A professional wildlife photographer to take pictures in the Alaskan wilderness. Experience first hand a real safari moon. Call(555)381-1252 or send resumes to 2286 Main, Suite 2D Bend, Oregon.

Solo St. John was in the middle of an erotic dream about his buddy, Nyssa Harrington, when the click of his front door shutting brought him to instant alert mode.

Solo looked up, caught a flashing glimpse of a good deal of naked flesh; long legs, perfectly rounded derriere, and a waist he could span with his hands. The intruder's long blond hair curled around her shoulders an inch above the ties of her bikini top.

Then he saw the skunk. He blinked twice.

This woman and the skunk were not the subject of his brief and very strange dream, a fantasy that made his mind speed along at sixty in a residential zone. This was someone he had never seen before and he resented the intrusion.

"Hello," she cooed seductively from his living room. "Will you come out and play?"

The skunk stuck a black and white head around the open door to his bedroom. A second later the animal turned and lifted his tail before disappearing into the living room.

Solo was out of bed and pulling on his jeans before the count of five. Yet in that short time, the lady in question, along with the skunk that was now exploring his fireplace hearth, had taken over his living room.

The lithe, supple blond sported an expensive camera, and all the while the lady in question babbled nonsense words.

"I'm willing, able, and eager." She posed for him, a pose meant to entice. Author Interview:

What inspired you to write your first book?

Bicycle tours! My parents started riding bicycles for exercise about twenty years ago. Their rides grew in length from about town, to bike Oregon then on to bicycling in different parts of the world. They have cycled in countries such as Greece, Bali, Tasmania, France, New Zealand and different parts of the US such as Alaska, Natchez Trace and New England. In Safari Moon, Nyssa Harrington, gives bicycle tours around the world. During the story she is researching Greece for her next tour.Do you have a specific writing style?

My writing style is evolving and think it always will. When I wrote Safari Moon I was more of a panster than a plotter. The characters screamed at me throughout the book, telling me everything they needed me to hear. I do, however, always write in depth scene analysis. I have done this for quite a few years. I know the first and last sentence of a scene before I write it. I know the setting the pov as well as the internal, external, and emotional conflict. If there is to any foreshadowing in the scene it all down on my scene plot.

How did you come up with the title?

I really liked the way it sounded. My main characters are a wildlife photographer and a bicycle tour guide. I immediately thought of a safari. But wait, they aren't in Africa so can they go on a safari? I looked up the definition:1. a journey or expedition, for hunting, exploration, or investigation, especially in eastern Africa.2.the hunters, guides, vehicles, equipment, etc., forming such an expedition.3. any long or adventurous journey or expedition.Any long adventurous journey? Hmm... what could be more adventurous than studying and photographing wolves? The background picture had the gorgeous picture of the moon so... Safari Moon became the title of this book.

It's interesting because my daughter asked that same question yesterday when we were on Skype.Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

No, I don't think there is really a message other than sometimes best friends make the best couples. This book is light and humorous in places. It does have a few serious undertones but it is meant to be a fun read, escape fiction at its best.

How much of the book is realistic?

I think it is all realistic. Everything that happens is based on real career, real hopes and dreams, and real emotional expectations.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

This was addressed earlier. The bicycle tours, the photography is an unfilled dream of my own. But the characters are all fictional.

What books have most influenced your life most?

When I was in high school, I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy and I have always loved it. I was so thrilled when it came out in movie form. I think the fantasy part influenced me the most although I don't write fantasy. About twenty years ago I read my first romance, Pirate's Pleasure by Heather Graham. This book was a major influence. I like to think it was reading this book that got my mind turning. I started writing romance several years later.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I think Stella Cameron would hold that spot. She writes incredible villains and I do love a good antagonist. She was a speaker at a conference years ago for the midWillamette valley RWA. I love all her romances and in particular her historicals. Although Safari Moon doesn't really have a protagonist. I think one could consider the "willing eager and able women" the antagonists. While they play a negative role in the story, they also serve to help bring the couple together. These women help Solo see all of the amazing characteristics of Nyssa.What book are you reading now?

I am reading a Feast of Crows by George R. R. Martin. It is the 4th book in his Ice and Fire series. The way this book was written definitely has my turning. I love the way he takes an entire chapter for a characters pov. Most of the major characters have a pov.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

George R. R. Martin is a new to me author. This is also a genre I have not read in a very long time. For the past twenty years I have rarely if at all read anything outside of the romance genre. Reading outside the genre helps my writing evolve.What are your current projects?

I am working on two books right now. They are both in the edit phase. Rebel Heart will be published in June by Rogue Phoenix Press and I'm hoping to finish edits for A Marriage of Inconvenience. The first is a futuristic romance and the latter is the third book in my regency romance series.I would like to thank Everyday is an Adventure Book Blog for hosting Safari Moon today. I would like to make sure everyone knows that AnnChristine is an AKA. I normally write as Christine Young.

I would also like to please ask everyone who stops by to leave a comment. I would so appreciate. If you don't know what to say, just say "hi" and your email address so I can't put you in this blog stop for a bookmark as well as the big drawings at the end of the tour.

About Me

A wife, mother, teacher, and avid reader...who likes to write, review books, garden, cook and live the simple life! Self-proclaimed "canning queen," and a Southern girl at heart, I have a deep appreciation for all things "old school" and would rather splurge on a new book than a new dress, and make no apologies for it! Faith and love of country are a must in my life. Welcome to my musings...